JOURNAL 



OF 



THOMAS WALLCUT, 



IN 1790. 

WITH NOTES BY 

GEORGE DEXTER. 



Reprinted from the Proceedings of the Massachusetts 
Historical Society, for October, 1879. 



CAMBRIDGE: 

UNIVERSITY PRESS : JOHN WILSON AND SON. 

1879. 






15 



?^ OF w^s^^^' 



THOMAS WALLCUT'S JOURNAL. 



' T a stated meeting of the Massachusetts Historical Soci- 
held Oct. 9, 1879, Mr. George Dexter communicated the 
' jvving journal kept during a visit to Marietta, Ohio, and 
. the return journey to Philadelphia, by Thomas Wallcut, 
le of the founders of the Society and its first Recording 
ecretary. This journal had been found among Mr. Wall- 
it's papers, presented by his nephew, the Rev. Robert F. 
^allcut, at the September meeting. 

An appreciative and touching memoir of Mr. Wallcut has 
been prepared by this nephew for the second volume of the 
Early Proceedings of the Society (pp. 193-208). From this 
it appears that he invested all his pay as hospital steward in 
the Revolutionary war, in a share of the Ohio Company, then 
just formed, and an enterprise in which many officers and 
soldiers of the Continental Army were interested. In 1789 
he decided to visit the new settlement, without, however, any 
definite plan of remaining there permanentl}'. Among his 
papers is a copy of a letter from General Rufus Putnam, dated 
August 14, 1789, in which information is given as to the best 
way of reaching the Muskingum ; and two draughts of a let- 
ter to his. friend George R. Minot, from Ohio, dated October 
31 and November 3, 1789, have been found also. From these 
draughts it appears that he arrived at Marietta on the 26th of 
October, having left Boston early in September, in a schooner 
(" Captain Snow "), and having had a rough passage of 
twenty-four days to Baltimore. Resting here four days, he 



tells Mr. Minot he found a conveyance for his portmanteau 
in a wagon, and started on foot for Wheeling, on the evening 
of October 1st, arriving there on the evening of the 20th. 
The only remark he makes about the journey is a comment 
on the wretched cabins of the settlers along the road on 
which he travelled ; " even for two hundred miles in Penn- 
sylvania, before I came to the Ohio," he says ; and he ex- 
presses a hope that " our people will be the means of intro- 
ducing more ambition and a better taste for building, as soon 
as we can turn our attention from the first and essential 
requisites of settling a new country." He remained but one 
day and two nights in Wheeling, and spent four days and a 
half in walking down to Marietta, having joined Mr. Cutler 
there (a son of the Rev. Manasseh Cutler), and one other 
person whose name he does not give. He is much pleased 
with all he sees and hears in Marietta, but " has thought of 
traversing a considerable part of the country, and may per- 
haps go down to Orleans," with the expectation of returning 
by way of Charleston to Boston. 

Mr. Wallcut remained in Marietta from October 26, 1789, 
to March 8, 1790. If he kept a diar}^ during the early part 
of his visit, it must have been in another book, for this begins 
with the first leaf of the book, *' Wednesday, January 20, 
1790." It is a compact little volume, five inches by three and 
a half, and oj^ens on the shorter edge. It is kept in a very 
neat and careful manner. Mr. Wallcut's habits were method- 
ical, and his handwriting almost a model for this generation 
of poor peimien. 

After his return to Boston, Mr. Wallcut did not immedi- 
ately lose his interest in Ohio. Among his correspondence is 
an occasional letter from a friend there, — Mr. Mood}-, with 
whom he boarded, or Paul Fearing, the first lawyer in the 
State. But occupation ancJ distance from his lands (the Ohio 
purchase was the only financial investment he ever made) 
caused a gradual decrease of attention. Wlien applied to 
by a friend in Marietta, he sent money from time to time to 
pay the taxes and other claims upon him. Some letters 
from William R. Putnam, who seems to have acted as his 



agent, are found among his papers. But gradually, piece by- 
piece, the land was sold for unpaid taxes, until finally, in 
1838, he made a quitclaim deed of all his interest to Nahum 
Ward, for the sura of one hundred dollars. It may be of 
interest to some Ohio antiquary to note that Mr. Wallcut's 
land (as appears by a letter from Mr. Ward, dated December 
17, 1831) consisted of " eight-acre lot, number 287 ; three 
acres, number 575 ; half-acre lot, number 1083 ; one hundred 
and sixty acres, number 1142 ; one-hundred-acre lot, number 
498 ; six hundred and forty acres, and two hundred and sixty- 
two acres, number 13, in range number 15, town number 
11."* 

In printing the diary, the language has been modernized 
somewhat, and a few passages of a strictly private or personal 
nature have been omitted. 

Wednesday, 20 January, 1790. It was perceived this morning that 
the River Mus[kingum] had fallen. When I got up it appeared to 
me it had fallen about a foot, and it continued to fall through the day, 
and faster much than it had risen. It froze considerably last night, 
and this is as cold or the coldest day I have felt iu the country. Went 

* In a copy whicli Mr. Wallcut has made of a letter from Benjamin Lynde 
Oliver to him from Zanesville, July 23, 1812, occurs the following: " With re- 
spect to your land, all the information I can obtain is this, — it originally con- 
tained five lots and a section and fraction. 1st lot, No. 287, of eiglit acres, 
was a very good piece of land, and worth $10 per acre, at least. This is not 
redeemable. 2d lot, No. 575, of three acres, is rough, hilly land, not worth the 
taxes paid on it. 3d lot. No. 1083, is a house-lot, one-half acre, situated near the 
bank of the Ohio, a quarter of a mile from the Hockhocking, valuable merely 
as good land. 4th lot, No. 1142, one hundred and sixty acres, lies about twenty 
miles from Marietta. It is at least three or four miles from any settlement. It 
is rich land, but hilly, worth fifty cents or seventy-five cents per acre; and, when 
there shall be any settlement near it, will rise, perhaps, to $2 per acre. 5th lot. 
No. 498, of one hundred acres, lies about eighty-five miles from Marietta, and 
separated from the Ohio by a small Congress lot. This is all good land ; one-half 
of it is what is called bottom-land, — that is, low, rich, flat land, near the river. 
This land is worth at least ^i or $i per acre. The section No. 13, containing six 
hundred and forty acres, lies about forty miles west by south from Marietta, 
about six miles west by south from Athens. It is partly rich, partly thin, hilly 
land. It is worth, on an average, aboat-$l per acre. Seventy-four acres are sold. 
Tlie fraction, two hundred and sixty-two acres, lies contiguous to the section, and 
is of the same value per acre." 



out with Captain Prince,* and cut some poles for the smoke house. In 
the evening went to Mr. Parsons's vendue f and l)id upon some linen, 
a pattern for a shirt. I went as high as two dollars, which was as 
much as I thought it might be afforded for here, but it went above me. 

Thursday, 21 January. The weather much moderated to-day, and 
our creek and pond before the house fell so that it is almost dry. I 
believe this morning the Muskingnm had fell six or eight feet from the 
highest state of the flood in about twenty-four hours. 

Friday, 22 January, 1790. t 

Sabbath, 24 January, 1790. A pleasant day. This morning Mr. 
Brockway, Mr. Dix, Mr. Cushing, and several others left this place on 
a voyage to Orleans. Their object is trade, as they have some flour, 
and perhaps to seek their fortune. Captain P. started the proposal of 
going down with them as far as Belle Praie § to view that settlement. 
I readily assented to it with Mr. Moody. || We carried with us a 

* Captain Joseph Prince was a hatter by trade. He came from Boston, and 
Dr. Hildretli says he removed from Marietta to Cincinnati. Among Mr. Wall- 
cut's papers is a letter from him from tliat place, dated June 14, 1811. See " Pio- 
neer History," p. .330. 

t General Samuel H. Parsons, one of the judges of the Territorj', and a direc- 
tor in the Ohio Company, was a distinguislied officer in the Continental army. 
He was drowned in the Big Beaver Creek in November, 1789. Perhaps the vendue 
was a sale of liis effects, for his son Enoch, who was witli him in Ohio, returned 
to Connecticut in April of this year. There is a biography of General Parsons 
in Dr. Hildreth's "Memoirs of the Early Pioneer Settlers of Ohio"; and a 
full Parsons family genealogy in the " New England Historical and Genealogical 
Register," vol. i. pp. 20o-275. There is also an account of his death in Craig's 
" Olden Time," vol. ii. p. 528. He was one of the first to call attention to the 
curious mounds and earthworks in the Ohio Territory. See Haven's " Archae- 
ology of tlie United States," p. 23. 

} Nothing but the date is entered. 

§ For an account of the settlement and ejirly history of Belpre, see Hildreth's 
"Pioneer History," chapters xvi.-xix. There were three settlements, some 
little distance apart, but the Indian war caused the building of Farmers' Castle 
at the middle settlement, in wliich garrison all the inhabitants took slielter. 
Dr. Hildretli gives a picture of Farmers' Castle and a list of its inhabitants in 
17'J2, indicating the house in which each family dwelt. At tiie time of Mr. 
Wallcut's visit Farmers' Castle had not been built. 

II Mr. Nathaniel Moody was a baker in Marietta, with wliom ^Ir. Walh'ut 
and liis friend, the doctor, boarded during Mr. Wallcut's visit. Among the Wall- 
cut papers are two letters from Mr. Moody written after Mr. Wallcut's return 
to Hoston. From Mr. Prince's letter, cited above, it appears that Mr. Moody 
went also to (,'incinnati, that he was unfortunate in business there, and that 
he returned to New England for a time. When Mr. Prince heard last of him, 
he was in Kentucky. 



couple of loaves of bread, a half gallon whiskey, and some smoked ven- 
ison, and went aboard about 11 or 12 o'clock. We stopped twice 
to land some other passengers and articles and proceeded down. We 
got to Waldo Putnam's about dark, one of Mr. Moody's acquaintance, 
and got lodging and mush and milk there for supper. Our bed was very 
good. This Waldo Putnam is a grandson of General Israel, and son 
of Colonel. He has been here to help his son begin his farm, has got 
him in a comfortable and prosperous way, and has gone home to Con- 
necticut. Waldo appears to be cut out for a farmer. Captain Miles 
and family live in one part of the honse, Captain llaskel, Mr. Davis, 
Mr. Dunton, and some others live altogether here.* 

Monday, 25 January, 1790. Walked up this morning to Major 
Cushing's and Colonel Battelle's, who both urged us to breakfast with 
them, t Captain Prince went to Major Cushing's ; Mr. Moody and I 
stayed at Colonel Battelle's, where we made our breakfast on mush and 
milk and hashed turkey. When we left home we intended to stay 
here but one night and to return to-day, but Messrs. P. and M. inclined 
to spend the day here to look all through the settlement. I acquiesced, 
though I would rather have gone home to-day, as it was very pleasant 
and mild, and we might not have so good an one to-morrow. We were 
asked to dine at Colonel Oliver's J by Captain George Ingersoll ; — 
had a good dish of boiled beef and pork, cabbage, turnips, potatoes, and 
Indian bread and wheat bread, and all served in a decent and hand- 
some clean manner. Colonel Oliver and Major Goodale § are out 

* Aaron Waldo Putnam went out to Ohio with his father, Colonel Israel Put- 
nam, in 1788. They settled at Belprc, where the son married Bathslieba Loring, 
daughter of Daniel Loring. Lives of both father and son are in Dr. Ilildreth's 
"Memoirs of the Pioneer Settlers." Captain Benjamin Miles was from Massa- 
chusetts. Major Jonathan Haskel had a farm at Belpre. He was afterward in 
the United States service, and is one of the pioneers whose lives Dr. Ilildreth has 
preserved. Hildreth mentions a Jonas Davis, an unmarried man, as one of the 
early settlers of Belpre. He was killed by the Indians in 1795. See " Pioneer 
History," pp. 388, 414. 

t Major Nathaniel Cuslnng of Massachusetts was the second conmiander of 
the Farmers' Castle at Belpre. Colonel Ebenezer Battelle was also from Mas- 
sachusetts, and a graduate of Harvard College in the class of 1775. He served 
frequently as chaplain to the settlement. Dr. Hildreth gives lives of both in his 
" Memoirs of the Early Pioneer Settlers." 

t Colonel Alexander Oliver was from the western part of Massachusetts. 
He had a large family of children, eleven in all. See Ilildreth's " Pioneer His- 
tory," p. o8{}. 

§ Major Nathan Goodale was the first commander of the garrison at Farmers' 
Castle. He was taken prisoner by the Indians, and died in captivity. Dr. 
Hildreth gives a memoir of him. 



8 

with the exploriug committee down the Ohio at Kaiihawa. They went 
out for five or six weeks, but have sent up for more provision, and do 
not expect to come home until some time in February. We drank 
tea at Captain Dana's.* Mrs. Oliver, Mrs. Munsell, and Betsy 
Oliver, Mr. JMunsell, Captain Prince, Mr. Moody, and Ingersoll, and 
I went to Captain D.'s to drink tea. It was sunset when we were done, 
and the women had three miles to walk home. Captain D. lent his skiff 
to go down by water, which was gratefully accepted on account of the 
ladies. t 

Tuesday, 26 January, 1790. This morning a prospect of foul 
weather to-day. The wind very high and a little rain. I do not regret 
staying yesterday unless we should have a wet day home. We went 
up to Colonel Oliver's to breakfast with Messrs. Ingersoll and Mayo,t 
and Mr. Munsell, who came down with us to see his wife (Colonel O.'s 
daughter), and to carry her home to INI. We had to assist Mr. Munsell 
through politeness to help him carry the skiff home. So we worked 
her up with Mrs. Lucretia in her, which made it noon when we got to 
Captain Dana's. We then took our baiting or dinner, and finished the 
meat (dried venison) and bread we brought with us, and some whiskey 
they (Munsell and Mood)') bought here. By this time a canoe of 
hunters were going up with meat to sell at Marietta. Mr. Munsell 
went with his wife in that canoe home, and we set off between twelve 
and one, and walked a brisk and very steady pace (about fourteen 
miles), which brought us to the garrison at sunset. § We were detained 
some time in getting over, but got home at dark before tea. It is 
counted twelve miles to Little Kanhawa on the Virginia shore, and sev- 
enteen miles to the lower blockhouse in tiie Belle Praie settlement, and 
four or five miles to the settlement at Hocking. We were treated with 

* Mr. Wallcut has partly drawn his pen through the words, " we slept again 
at Waldo Putnam's in a good bed ; had mush and milk for supper." 

t Cai)tain William Dana was from Watertown, Massachusetts, and lived at the 
upper Belpre settlement. Betsy Oliver married the Hon. Daniel Symmes of 
Cincinnati. Mrs. Levi Munsell was her elder sister. The Munsells lived in 
Marietta, where, with Joseph Buell, Mr. Munsell built the first frame house in 
1789. They had both been sergeants in General Harmar's regiment, and Buell 
liad kept a diary, extracts from which are printed by Dr. Ilildreth. 

J Daniel Mayo, from Boston, a gr.aduate of Harvard College, was one of the 
unmarried men at Belpre settlement. He taught the school tliere. 

§ The garrison was Fort Harmar, built in 1785 by Major John Doughty, on 
the opposite bank of the Muskingum from Marietta. There is a woodcut of 
it, with a description (written by Dr. Ilildreth), in the first volume of Williams's 
" American Pioneer," and a better picture and account in the " Pioneer His- 
tory. " 



attention, politeness, and hospitality. This settlement is the most for- 
ward of any, containing about twenty families and a hundred souls. 
On our return liome we met Hutchinson* going down to the exploring 
committee alone in a skiff with one barrel of whiskey and three of 
flour at or below Kanhawa. In the evening went to Mr. Parsons's 
room, but the members were scattered till late, and the President, Mr. 
Fearing,t adjourned to to-morrow evening, t 

Wednesday, 27 January, 1790. Weather pleasant, but colder than 
for some days past. This evening it began to snow. The society 
met, and proceeded to consider and discuss the question referred to this 
meeting, viz. : "Is the civil Government of the Western Territory as 
it now stands, by the Ordinance of Congress, calculated to secure the 
peace, freedom, and prosperity of the people ; and what is wanting to 
obtain so desirable an object ? " The society were not unanimous in 
any opinion, except that the Oi'dinance or Constitution would admit of 
amendments that might be very salutary, but that it is well framed for 
a temporary Constitution, and, taking futurity into consideration, some 
additions and amendments are necessary and proper. They, however, 
considered it as a compact that Congress cannot break, or infringe, 
without mutual consent. Major Dean Tyler § was elected a member, 
having stood seven days in nomination. 

* Hildretli mentions a Thomas Hutchinson as an early settler at Marietta. 
See " Pioneer History," p. 317. 

t Paul Fearing was from Plymouth county, Massachusetts, and graduated 
from Harvard College in 1785. He was the first attorney admitted to practise 
in Oliio, and represented that state in Congress from 1801 to 1803. He died 
in 1822. Dr. Hildretli has included him in his " Early Pioneer Settlers." 

Enoch Parsons was the third son of General Parsons, and when only twenty 
3"ears old received the appointment of recorder or register of the county of 
Washington, May 14, 1789. He resigned this otfice perliaps on account of his 
father's death, in April of the ne.xt year, and returned to his native state, 
Connecticut, where he afterward filled manj* offices. He was a man of some 
literary taste, and must have been a congenial companion for Mr. VVallcut. 
Among other offices held by him was that of president of the Connecticut branch 
of the United States Bank. He died in 184G. There is a memoir of iiim, with 
a portrait in the "New England Historical and Genealogical Register," vol. i. 
pp. 159-1G2. 

i This is the earliest reference to a debating society, of which mention is made 
more than once in the diary. 

§ Major Tyler moved to Waterford on the Muskingum, a short distance 
above Marietta, wliere he was tlie first constable. He was an educated man, a 
graduate of Harvard College, and taught the school and conducted the relig- 
ious services of Watcrford. Dr. Hildreth has publislied a short sketch of his 
life. He was early appointed a subaltern officer of the garrison at Marietta. 
See Colonel May's " Journal and Letters," p. 72. 

2 



10 

Questions were then pnt into tlie hat for the next evening's dehate. 
'•"Whotlior the AmericMn Statrs have, oontrariaiit to the rejiuhvtions of 
tlie Spanish Government, a riaht, foini(h'(l in tlie customs and laws 
of nations, to navigate tlie iSIississippi from its source to its mouth"; 
No. 1. Parsons. No. 2. '' Is the police of the city of Marietta equal to 
the good government of the same; and what alteration, if any, is nec- 
essary to that purpose"; Prince. No. o. "Whether capital punish- 
ment ought ever to be instituted ; if admitted, ought it to be intlicteil in 
any other case than where the criminal is guilty of murder"; Fearing. 
No. 4. Is the popular opinion true that the interests of the farmer, 
the mechanic, and the merchant are one and the same, inseparably con- 
nected ; or does this supposed oneness of interest exist anywhere but iu 
the brains of specuhuive theorists or prejudiced politicians; — or, in 
other words, is it not necessary in the nature of things, and to preserve 
harmony in a system, that some one interest or principle should pre- 
dominate? If so, which principfe or interest that should be, must be 
another question " ; T. AV. No. 1 was elected. 

IMr. Daniel Axe Louis Tylas, who was a member when the Con- 
stitution was forming, but before it was completed went a journey 
up to Pittsburgh, being now returned, was invited to sign the articles, 
which he did accordingly. When we adjourned it was at twelve or 
one. The snow had fell about two inches. 

Thursday, 28 January, 1790. Very cold to-day; as [cold as] I 
have felt it in this place, but not that biting, stinging cold that we have 
at home. This evening Anselm Tupper * arrived from another tour in 
the woods with his men all safe. 

Friday, 21) January. The cold continues as yesterday, but clear 
and pleasant. Plistered my hands in cutting wood on a large beech. 
In the evening attended Mr. Parsons's auction and bought six yards of 
Irish linen for two shirts for the doctor at 3s. per yard. It is good 
linen, and cheaper than can be got in this country. Such they tell me 
has been sold for Us. Bought two pounds coffee ; also Captain P. and 
Mr. S., two each, so that we are now like to have coffee for a change, 
I hope, while I stay. Tea has been our diet night and morning ever 
since I came, except twice. 

Saturday, 30 January, 1790. Spent the most of the day in reading 
more reviews, monthly and critical, borrowed of Mr. Parsons. Weather 

* Ansehn Tupper was tlio son of General Renjamin Tapper, a will kmiwn 
Revolutionary officer, and was one of the surveyors of the Ohio Company, lie 
was of tlie first company that huuled at Marietta, April 7, 1788. The lather 
arrived in the following August. 



11 

considerably moderated, and clear and pleasant. N. B. It should 
have been noted yesterday that Mrs. Sargent * died about one of the 
clock of childbed sickness. This evening retui-ned Colonel INIcigs and 
tlie exploring committee with him, among whom were Commodore 
Whipple and General Tupper.f 

They have returned two or three weeks sooner than they intended, 
but when they [were] about to proceed up the Hocking, the ice was 
so thick coming down as to prevent them. They propose going out 
again in a few days to finish. 

Lord's Day, 31 January, 1790. Pleasant and mild, the snow en- 
tirely gone. Did not go to meeting to-day, but attended the funeral 
of Mrs. Sargent in the afternoon. The obsequies were performed 
with decency and respect. 

Monday, 1 February, 1790. Weather I'ainy and unpleasant, but 
mild. Finished reading the critical and monthly reviews borrowed 
of Mr. Parsons. Mrs. INIoody inoculated to-day.-t 

Tuesday, 2 February. Weather miich as yesterday. The Court 
of Quarter Sessions stood adjourned to this da}', as the t^ame jury were 
held to serve at this court. About 10 or 11 the court opened, and 
some time was lost in collecting a jury, and thirteen being collected, INIr. 
Fearing, attorney, attended us to the south-cast blockhouse. Colonel 
Meigs's chamber. Indictments were laid before us against two men 
for fighting, Newell and Sargeant, hunters. Bills were found against 
them severally. Mr. Woodbridge,§ foreman, asked the Jury if we 

* Mrs. Wintlirop Sargent was Ilowena Tapper, sister of Anselni Tupper .and 
daughter of General Benjamin. Her liushand was tlie well-known secretary of 
the Oiiio Company, and of the Territory. Tiieir marriage on Fehruary 6, 
1789, was tiie first solemnized in the Territory. General Rufus Putnam per- 
formed the eeremony. See Hildretii's " Pioneer History," p. 24'J. 

t Colonel Return J. Meigs, a distinguisiicd officer in tiie Revolution, was one of 
the surveyors of the Ohio Company. He reached Marietta five days after the 
first party. He became afterward tiie agent for the Cherokee Indians. His son, 
of the same name, was governor of Ohio from IHIO to 1814. 

Commodore Wiiip[)le was a well-known naval officer in the Revolutionary 
war. Pie died in 18H), aged 85. 

General Tupper served as major of Colonel Fellows's regiment at the siege of 
Boston, and made two gallant expeditions down the harbor. See Frothingham's 
" Siege of Boston," pp. 230, 242. Lives of all three of these pioneers may be 
found in Dr. Hildretii's series of biographies. 

t For an account of tiie introduction of the small-pox into Marietta, see 
Hildretii's " Pioneer History," p. 263. 

§ Dudley Wooi (bridge succeeded Mr. Parsons as recorder or register, in 
April, 1700. See Pres. Andrews's " Washington County, and the Early Settle- 
ment of Ohio," p. 79. 



12 

had any thing more to present, and nothing being offered, I proposed 
for the consideration of tlie jurj- four articles of complaint to be pre- 
sented as grievances. I prefaced them with some observations on their 
necessity and propriety, and the informality of the paper. With leave 
of the foreman I read them. The question was taken whether the 
jury would take them up and act upon them. Passed affn-matively. 
As it was expected it would take some time to deliberate on them, 
and being near one o'clock, we adjourned to three o'clock. About half- 
past three the jury met and debated the four articles. 

1st Grievance. No law exists against duelling, &c. 

2d Grievance. No incorporation of Marietta, and therefore no 
way of providing for the poor and sick strangers. 

3d Grievance. No law licensing and regulating taverns, &c. 

4th Grievance. No law against the crime of buying and selling the 
human species.* 

On the first, only Mr. Winsor and myself voted for it. On the 
second, passed unanimously affirmative. On the third, passed by a 
majority of nine affirmatively. On the fourth, passed by a majority 
of eleven affirmatively. These presentments concluded by referring 
the court to two former cases of two negroes being sold, and 
[asking?] that they would concur with the jury in an application to 
the governor and judges for remedy of these complaints. The court 
dismissed the jury. Speech of Captain Jona. Morris in the grand jury 
on the article of duelling. I think every government ought to en- 
courage duelling. It would discourage cowards, and we want brave 
men to [illegible.'] His eye and his whole countenance spoke the same 
language.f 

* Among these Wallcut papers is a small scrap on wliich Mr. Wallcut has 
written these grievances. It is probably tlie paper from which he read them to 
the grand jury. The names of tlie first grand jury are preserved by Dr. Hil- 
dreth in his " Pioneer History," p. 233. On the back of this paper of grievances 
Mr. Wallcut has written the names of the jurors " February Term, 1790, held 
by adjournment from December, 1789." The names are as follows : Dudley 

Woodbridge, Abraham Whipple, Stacy, Christopher Winsor, Charles 

Knowles, William Burnham, William Skinner, Levi Munscll, Joseph Buell, 

Wanton Casey, Munroe, Jonathan Morris, Tliomas Wallcut. 

t Mr. Wallcut entertained throughout his life very decided opinions on the 
subject of slavery and offences against good morals, and he was always fear- 
less in the expression of them, and ready for any service he tliouglit himself 
capable of performing to influence public opinion against these evils. Tiie 
following is a draught he prepared of an address to Governor St. Clair on Ills 
arrival with iiis family in Ohio, which happened during Mr. Wallcut's visit. 



13 

Wednesday, 3 February, 1790. We had no meeting last night, and 
Mr. Fearing gone to Wolf Creek to-day.* We had a meeting this 

Perliaps the opportunity of presenting his " grievances " to the grand jury in- 
duced him to suppress tliis address. Tliere is no mention of it in the diary. 

" To His Excellenri/ Arthur St. Clair, Esq., Governor and Commander-in-chief of 
the Territory/ of the United States North-west of the Ricer Ohio : 

" The subscribers, citizens of Marietta, in the county of Washington, in the 
Territory aforesaid, congratulate you on your safe arrival in your government 
with your family. 

" We beg leave to observe that, as men, as American citizens, and as Cliris- 
tiatis, we conceive ourselves born to certain natural inherent and unalienable 
rights, which we hold to be sacred, and which cannot be violated without endan- 
gering the public peace, liberty, and safet}' ; and that infringements upon these 
rights ought not to go unpunished. 

"As friends to the rights of mankind, and following the dictates of that char- 
ity and benevolence which we owe to our fellow-men, however the common 
parent of us all may have distinguished us from each other by complexion, 
education, or any other circumstance, we cannot but view with serious concern 
when inroads are made upon the barriers tliat secure to us these important 
blessings, or sutRcient checks are not provided by law to restrain and punish 
the inordinate passions of oppressive, cruel, and avaricious men against the 
innocent, the helpless, and the injured. 

" We therefore beg leave to call your Excellency's attention, and to earnestly 
recommend to your notice, certain abuses and otfences against the interests of 
society and good government which have taken place here, and against which 
it is said by some tliere is either no law, or that the laws are insufficient for 
the remedying and punishing like offences in future. 

" "The first thing we beg leave to mention is that a certain Isaac Mixer, an 
inhabitant and innkeeper in tliis city and county, a man of notoriously vicious 
character, keeps a disorderly, riotous, and ill-governed house, which is consid- 
ered by tlie citizens in general as an intolerable nuisance to the place, and one 
that will not only bring an odium and prejudice against the inliabitants and 
tlieir police, but is also, in its tendency, destructive of peace, good order, and 
exemplary morals, upon which not only the well-being but the very existence 
of society so mucli depends. 

" To remedy and prevent the like abuses in future, we beg leave to suggest 
to your attention whetlier it is not immediately necessary that a law should be 
enacted for licensing and regulating taverns and other places of public resort, 
with proper penalties. 

" We next beg leave to observe that we apprehend the said Isaac Mixer has 
committed a flagrant trespass upon the rights of humanity, the privileges of 
American subjects, and the peace and happiness of this jurisdiction, as well as 
the dignity of the United States, in selling a certain negro boy named Prince, 
about tlie age of seven years, out of this jurisdiction into the State of Virginia, 



* For an account of the Wolf Creek mills, see Hildreth's " Pioneer History,' 
p. 422. Mr. Fearing's father lived there. 



14 

evening, and agreeable to the articles elected our officers for this month ; 
Enoch Parsons, President, T, W., Seci'etary, and Joseph Piince, Treas- 
urer. The question to be debated this evening was referred to tlie 
next meeting. The meeting was soon finished, as they wanted to have 
a card party, and called in IMunro and Elliot.* I went home as soon 
as our meeting was over, and read a critical and English review bor- 
rowed of Elliot. Weather much as yesterday. Began to rain pretty 
hard this evening. 

Thursday, 4 February. A pretty smart snow-storm, with cold and 
high winds ; about two or three inches of snow fell. 

Friday, 5 February. Pretty cold to-day. This and yesterday 
seem more like New England winter weather than any I have felt 
here. Had some talk with Mr. Dodge about going home.f 

wliere slavery is tolerated by law. Tins atrocious crime, we presume, is 
against the divine and moral, as well as (according to Judge Biackstone) against 
the Jewish code, the common law of England, and the ordinance of Congress 
for the government of the Territory, which we apprehend to be our constitu- 
tion, and therefore the supreme law of the land. And considering that this 
is the second instance that the said Mixer has shown his contempt and defiance 
of the aforesaid sacred rights of mankind, we cannot refrain from expressing 
to your Excellency our appreliensions that, if this evil is not speedily checked, 
it may grow to the abominable and degrading traffic of buying and selling our 
fellow-creatures in this place. 

" When so just ideas of rational and constitutional freedom are like the life- 
giving rays of the sun, darting their benign influence over most of tiie king- 
doms of the world, — while the Christian, the philosopher, and the good men of 
every community expect and devoutly look forward to the complete emancipa- 
tion of the whole human race, — it would ill become Americans to wink at 
crimes so enormous ; nay, rather, they would not continue to support their 
character of being foremost to break and destroy every yoke of slavery, every 
manacle of tyranny. We therefore trust your Excellency will indulge us so 
far, and impute it to laudable motives, when we express our earnest wishes 
that a law may be enacted with heavy penalties, for like abuses in future. In 
the mean time we cannot but entertain fears tiiat the above-mentioned boy is 
daily liable to be sold away from place to place, till he may be transported 
where he will be a slave beyond remedy. At the same time, we beg leave to 
express our wishes, that, if it is practicable and consistent with law, the said 
Mixer may be held answerable for his conduct, and the boy reclaimed as a 
subject of this jurisdiction, and entitled to like privileges with ourselves and 
our children." 

* Captain Josiah Munroe was of the first company that arrived at Marietta. 
See Hildreth's " Pioneer History," p. 200. 

+ A Captain John Dodge was one of the party of three who built the Wolf 
Creek mills in 1789. Mr. Wallcut left Marietta and travelled part of the way 
to riiiladelphia with a Mr. Dodge. 



15 

Saturday, 6 February, 1790. Weather pleasant and milder than 
yesterday. Employed myself in chopping wood. I feel best those 
days which are partly improved in exercise. 

Lord's Day, 7 February. Did not go to meeting. Pleasant and 
mild, but windy. Spent the evening with Mr. Gridley,* and drank 
tea. Colonel Battel le and wife came in after tea to spend the even- 
ing. We stayed till about nine or after, and came away together. I 
accompanied Colonel B. and wife as far as the stockade, and found Mr. 
Tylas coming down to the point with a lantern which I improved 
until, about half way, the wind blew it out. Very dark and muddy. 
Heard of the Wolf Creek men losing their millstones in going with 
them up Muskingum. They seem to be peculiarly unfortunate or are 
very careless. 

Monday, 8 February. A little snow on the ground this morning. 
Pleasant and moderate. This evening a man came from Belle Pre to 
inform of the boat being found and taken up by Captain Stone f at 
Belle Pre ; every thing saved. 

Tuesday, 9 February. Cold, clear, and pleasant. Meeting of our 
society adjourned to to-morrow evening. 

Wednesday, 10 February, 1790. Cold and clear. Our meeting 
again adjourned. The Ohio and Muskingum both so full of ice that 
there is no passing. 

Thursday, 11 February. Societj'- met this evening and debated 
the subject of the navigation of the Mississippi again, being the ques- 
tion of Mr. Parsons proposed last meeting. A diversity of sentiment 
prevailed, but all agreed in the probability or certainty of a trade 
taking place in a few years, by strength or force if not by right or 
treaty, or some other way. The laws and customs of nations were 
much insisted on, but they who laid so much stress on them ought to 
have told us what they were. For my part, I declared my ignorance 
of them without reserve, and therefore argued only upon the ground of 
what appear to me the laws of nature, as well as the reason and 
justice of our right to the trade, the nature and circumstances of the 
case, &c. A meeting of agents was to sit to-day, but could do no busi- 
ness for want of one member, and adjourned. Sent express for Major 
Goodale from Belle Pre. 

* A William Gridley is mentioned as one of those who came to Marietta the 
first season. See Horace Nye's " Reminiscences," quoted in Howe's " Historical 
Collections of Ohio," p. 510. 

t Captain Jonathan Stone from Massachusetts was one of the Belpre asso- 
ciation. See Hildreth's "Pioneer History," pp. 366, 382. 



16 

Friday, 12 February, The snow entirely gone. The rivers Ohio 
and Muskingum both stiil choked up with the ice, that the passing is 
very dangerous. 

Saturday, 13 February, 1790. The rivers continue so choked 
with ice that the exploring committee cannot go out to finish their 
surveys. 

Lord's Day, 14 February. Did not go to meeting. Weather un- 
settled, raw and rainy. 

Monday, 15 February. The people at Belle Pre having taken 
out every thing from the boat but the stones and gudgeons,* she was 
again carried away by the ice and seen by some hunters down about 
Kanhawa amidst a large cake of ice, so that she could not be come at. 
However, the pork, flour, bread, beans, hams, and a variety of other 
articles with some tools were saved at Belle Pre. This affair seems 
to be a strange medley of good and bad luck. 

Tuesday, 16 February. Thaw and rain ; the air soft and very 
foggy. This melts and carries off the ice very fast. Tlie rivers rise. 
No meeting this evening. I fear ours will be but a short-lived society. 
They seem to have so little taste and animation for it that we evi- 
dently have the symptoms of decay .f 

Wednesday, 17 February, 1790. The rivers continue to rise exceed- 
ing fast. Had a meeting this evening. After the business was over, 
Mr. Parsons resigned his place as president, which was not accepted. 
The evening spent till twelve o'clock or after, courting him to hold it. 
Mr. Fearing has been absent two or three meetings, and seems inclined 
to drop his connection. It has rained considerably to-day. 

Thursday, 18 February. Warm and pleasant part of the day, and 
rained part. I went out in the evening before I went to bed and 
found the back water of Muskingum had come into the creek at the 
door and above the bridge so as to cover our dam and fill the pond 
high. Towards night and in the evening, it rained very hard, with 
thunder and lightning. Expect to be routed again with the high water. 

Friday, 19 February. We got up at sunrise this morning. The 
doctor calling, and telling us the water rose so flist that it would soon be 
in the house, when I immediately got up. We soon had the tea-kettle 
on, and got our coflTee boiled ; and before we could get our breakfast 

* A gudgeon is the iron piece on the end of a wooden shaft on wliicli it turns. 
See Webster's Dictionary Unabridged. Tlie boat is tlie same that was lost wliile 
on its way to Wolf Creek. See entries of 7th and 8t!i February. 

t We have seen no mention elsewliere of this debating society. Its life was 
probably as short as Mr. Walicut feared. 



IT 

done, the water came in so fast that the floor was afloat, and we stood 
in water to our buckles to drink the last dish. We had before got such 
articles upstairs as the water might injure. Everybody on the point be- 
low the great bridge is obliged to move. Only three houses are out 
of reach of the water, owing to their being placed so high. Messrs. 
Woodbridge (Merchant), Rockwell, Wells (Tailors), Mr. Bent, Prince, 
Webster, Moody, Skinner, Mixer, Mills, Lucas, Neal, Tuttle, Barber, 
Landon, Matthews.* The flood carries away fences, barrels, and every 
thing that will float, so that some are busy in towing the timber off 
their garden lots to go down the stream, which saves a vast deal of 
labor (six parts in seven, they say). Went up to Dr. True's pest- 
house t and got my dinner with Moody. At night carried the doctor's 
bedding into Mr. Fearing's to sleep, as the doctor is determined to 
stay and take care of the house. Which he did and slept there. At 
agents' meeting this week the following busitiess was acted upon, — 
encouragement for mills, iron-works, salt-works, manufactures, com- 
pany orders, and a petition of S. Symons in behalf of some people 
who desire to settle in this purchase. 

Saturday, 20 February, 1790. Went up to Mr. Moody's and got 
my victuals. The river continues to rise; the ice almost all passed 
down. But it is supposed there have been heavy rains, as well as the 
Alleghany probably broke up, that cause the present rise, which 
several besides Colonel Oilman t say is about one foot higher than it was 

* Mr. Wallcut has left a blank space liere, as if he intended to add 
more names of sufferers from the flood. Dr. Hildretli says, in his account of 
the floods of the Ohio River, printed in the first part of tlie first vohime of the 
publications of the Ohio Historical Society (p. 55), that for some 3'ears after the 
settlement of Marietta, there was no flood that did any damage. " The river in 
the spring and autumn was generally about ' full bank,' but never overflowed so 
much as to remove fences. Small buildings were erected on the low bot- 
toms near the river, by the early settlers, for the convenience of fattening 
hogs, &c., and remained there for years without molestation from the water." 
Mr. Wallcut's account would imply that this freshet of 1790 was something 
more than the usual " full bank " of the season. 

t When the small-pox appeared at Marietta, a town meeting decided that 
houses should be put up back of the plain, and the people be inoculated. 
See Hildreth's " Pioneer History," p. 2G4. Dr. True's pest-house was probably one 
of these. Dr. True was an early emigrant to Marietta, and a valued pliysician 
and citizen. He died in 1823. His life is in Hildreth's " Memoirs of the Pioneer 
Settlers." 

t This is probably Joseph Oilman, from Exeter, New Hampshire, who 
emigrated to Marietta with his family in 1789, and was appointed probate 
judge in December of the same year. Dr. Hildreth has a life of him and of 
his son, Benjamin Ives Oilman, in his pioneer biographies. 

3 



18 

last May. When the water had got \ip to the top of the stone-work 
of Mr. Moody's oven, it fell in, which will be not only a heavy loss 
to him, especially in his present circumstances, but to the settlement, 
as many depend partly on him for bread. Tiie surveyors' conmiittee, 
&c., cannot carry out hard bread with them as they used to do till it is 
rebuilt, which I would uot do in the same place again. Slept at 
Mr. Fearing's again. 

Lord's Day, 21 February, 1790. Went down again as usual this 
morning to the house. They say the water has fallen about twelve or 
thirteen inches. Found the doctor in the house. He had got some 
bricks upon the floor, and kindled a little fire. ... Went to Mr. Wood- 
bridge's * in a canoe, and bought some more sugar, where I received a 
welcome letter from home, the first word I have heard since I left 
them. Many particulars that I expected to be informed of I was dis- 
appointed in. Mr. ]\foody received his yesterday afternoon by the 
same conveyance, Mr. Cutter f of Cambridge going down to Miami in 
a Kentucky boat.f I suppose mine got left at Mr. Woodbridge's, and 

* Dudley Woodbridge kept a general store in Marietta. An account with 
Mr. Wallcut shows that he sold shoes, " shalooii," &c., as well as groceries. 
See, also, note on page 11. 

t This name may be Cutler. There were families of both names in Cam- 
bridge. But Mr. Moody sajs, in a letter to Mr. Wallcut, dated Marietta, Sep- 
tember 14, 1791, "there have been two persons killed by the Indians here 
lately, a Captain Rogers, and old Mr. Karr, at the mouth of Duck Creek and 
Wolf Creek; also one Kelly, killed at Belleville, and his son taken prisoner; 
one Joseph Cutter, who was from Cambridge, either killed or taken pris- 
oner." 

t A Kentucky boat is described by Judge Burnet in his " Notes on the North- 
western Territory," p. 49, as a flat boat " made of green oak plank, fastened by 
wooden pins to a frame of timber, and calked with tow, or any other pliant 
substance that could be procured." 

Mr. Christian Schultz, who visited Marietta in September, 1807, describes 
(Travels, vol. i. pp. 129-132) the various kinds of boats used on the Western 
rivers and their cost. " Kentucky boats," he says, "are strong frames of an 
oblong form, varying in size from twenty to fifty feet in length, and from ten 
to fourteen in breadth ; they are built of stout square timber, and before they 
are sided and roofed in, have much the appearance of old graving scows, ex- 
cepting that the front part or bow has somewhat of a rake. The gunwales are 
generally from twelve to twenty -four inches higii, and from three to six indies 
thick ; on the top of these are mortised square joists of three or four feet in 
length, and four or five inches thick, which are sided up like a house with ordi- 
nary boards; on the top of these studs are secured the foot of each rafter, on 
which the roof is laid, which likewise answers the purpose of a main and quarter 
deck ; they are steered by a long swing oar of the whole length of the boat, and 



19 

that is why I did not get it last evening. After breakfast took a walk 
of two or three miles over the hills beyond the hospital towards Duck 
Creek * upon the side of the three and eight acre lots, A beautiful 
mild, pleasant, warm day like May. Have not had so agreeable a walk 
since I came here. On my return met Captain Knowles f and Mr. 
Burnham going to view their eight-acre lots. I accompanied them 
and returned with them. I slept this night at Mr. M.'s house. . . . 

Monday, 22 February, 1790. . . . The water has abated so that Lucas 
and Neal and several more are moving back into their houses. . . . After 
breakfast I busied myself in kindling a fire to dry the house, and after 
dinner got Mr. Bent to lay the floor, which the water had thrown up 
together in a confused heap. N. B. The water had risen about four 
feet upon the floor, and about four and a half without it. Wept up 
about four o'clock and dined. . . . The water has now got so low that we 
can pass the great bridge t by the help of rails laid from log to stump 
and log, &c. In the evening I sat up late to make a large fire to dry the 
house in the night. Last evening arrived here Captain Thompson, late 
of Lamb's artillery, with despatches for Governor St. Clair, who is by 
this time at Kaskias. Went to Judge Gilman and excused myself 
as one of the appraisers of Joshua Cheever's estate and effects. The 
doctor showed me, as a natural curiosity of the country, a complete 
lobster in miniature, about two inches in length, with the tail extended 
without the horns. They are found in plenty in streams and springs 
of water. Mr. Cutler § gave me some alum found on the surveys. 

Tuesday, 23 February, 1790. The most part of the day warm and 
pleasant, so that the roads dry fast, but rain in the night keeps them. 

generally have from one to three hands to manage a boat, having frequent 
occasion, when heavily loaded, to use their unwieldy oars in order to keep 
nearly in the middle of the river. Some of these floating machines, with a shed 
roof, bear a very striking resemblance to what you daily see in the streets of 
New York when new houses are building, and generally denominated a lime 
house." 

* Duck Creek flows into the Ohio a short distance east from Marietta. It is 
a considerable stream. 

t Charles Knowles is mentioned by Hildreth (" Tioneer History," p. 233) as a 
member of the first grand jury, Sept. 9, 1788, and a William Burnham was of 
the jury on which Mr. Wallcut served. 

I The great bridge was probably that over Tyber Creek, which empties into 
the Muskingum in tlie southern part of the town. See Colonel May's journal, 
p. 76 ; Ilildretli's " Pioneer History," pp. 225, 226. 

§ This was probably Jarvis Cutler, son of the Rev. Manasseh Cutler, who 
was one of the first party of emigrants. Dr. Hildreth gives a sketch of his 
life in the pioneer biographies. 



20 

wet. This morning walked up to the pest-hnuse all the way without 
the help of a canoe. Did not go to agents' meeting to-day, for staying 
to take care of the house and make fires to dry the house. I fastened 
the house to go up to breakfast and dinner, and in the evening drank 
tea in Captain Prince's house, where I had the pleasure of reading a 
newspaper (Carlisle) in which was some French news, beside President 
Washington's speech at the opening of the session of Congress in Jan- 
uary. Nothing seems so grateful and welcome here as a letter or 
newspaper. Slept with him [Captain Prince]. Spent part of the after- 
noon in the stockade,* talking with the doctor. 

"Wednesday, 24 February. After breakfast went to the stockade to 
the meeting of agents to excuse myself from attending on a committee 
which Colonel Meigs told me yesterday afternoon 1 was appointed upon, 
to fix the wages or compensation to the donation committee.f I went 
between ten and eleven, and the meeting was adjourned to to-morrow 
afternoon, three o'clock. This is a commission I do not like, for sev- 
eral reasons. In the afternoon I went to make a fire and prepare the 
house for Mr. M. and family to return home, which they did before 
night. Very high, blustering winds to-day. The long-expected (and 
second) raft of boards from Wolf Creek arrived this day, but left part 
on an island coming down. It has been peculiarly unfortunate for all 
concerned, — the delay and loss occasioned to the proprietors as well 
as those who have waited for them. 

Thursday, 25 February, 1790. Very pleasant but very raw ; cold 
wind and very blustering; so that Mr. Skinner's boat is obliged to 
return back this morning. They set out yesterday about noon, but it 
was too rough to proceed. They say the river rose again last night 
about a foot. At three o'clock went up to the stockade to agents' 
meeting. I excused myself from the committee to fix the compensa- 

* The stockade, called the " Campus Martius," commenced soon after the 
settlement, for the protection of the people, is figured from a plan by Wintlirop 
Sargent in Hildreth's history, p. 215, and is described at p. 227. It was not yet 
finislied at the time of Mr. Wallcut's visit. 

t The managers of the Oliio Company at Marietta had no power to give away, 
or even to sell, the Company's laud, and many emigrants passed beyond to Ken- 
tucky or to tlie Miami settlements, who might have been induced to remain at 
Marietta. This defect was remedied by vote of the shareholders, and a dona- 
tion committee appointed to select land for actual settlers. The conditions 
upon which lands were granted are given, from the records of tlie Company, in 
Hildreth's history, p. 244. The first donation committee, appointed February 6, 
1789, as appears from one of Mr. Wallcut's extracts from the records of the Com- 
pany, were Hnfiis Putnam, John Dodge, Griffin Greene, Alexander Oliver, Jona- 
tliau Devol, Robert Oliver, Return J. Meigs, Captain Dana, Nathan Goodale. 



21 

tion to the donation committee. Mr. Backus * was appointed in my 
room. A report was made, signed Wanton Casey,t chairman of the 
committee of ways and means for retrieving the credit of the Company 
funds. The subject of the salt springs which was agitated last week 
was again brought up. It was first moved by Mr. G. Greene (alias, he 
had the modesty to ask) that the great salt spring near the Scioto (if 
it falls within our purchase) should be given away to any one who 
would find it, «S:c. That motion did not obtain. At this meeting they 
(that is, General Tupper, Greene, «S:c.) came forward again by Colonel 
Oliver, making a motion that the undertakers should give five per cent 
to the Company. $ It was debated some time, and opposed principally 
by Colonel Sproat,§ and finally referred to the next meeting on Monday 
next, 9 o'clock. Weather raw and variable. Colonel S. notified the 
people at meeting that he had warned and requested the people on the 
point to turn out and mend the bridges, &c. The agents agreed to 
meet him. 

Friday, 26 February, 1790. Weather unsettled and variable. 
The Muskingum continues to rise ; — about another foot from yester- 
day. About nine or ten o'clock Colonel Sproat comes and rallies all 
hands to clear the roads of the drifted timber, and mend the bridges 
that the flood had unsettled, and thrown up some of the timber. I 



* This was probably Elijah Backus, from Connecticut, who emigrated early 
to Marietta. He purchased afterward Blennerhasset's Island. 

t Wanton Casey was from Rhode Island, and belonged to the Belpre asso- 
ciation. He returned to his native state after the Indian war. See Hildreth's 
" Pioneer History," pp. 273, 387. Among these Wallcut papers is a copy of a 
letter, dated July, 1811, in which Mr. Casey describes his lands at Belpre, and 
offers them for sale. 

t Salt was scarce, and commanded a very high price during the early days of 
the Ohio settlement. The existence of salt springs was known from the reports 
of white men taken captive by the Indians, and it was supposed that these 
springs were witliin the limits of the purchase of the Ohio Company. When 
the Scioto salt wells were discovered (by Mr. Greene in 1794), tiiey were found 
to be beyond the Ohio Company's lines, and they finally became the property 
of the state. See Hildreth's " Pioneer History," pp. 260, 405, 475 ; Howe's " His- 
torical Collections of Ohio," p. 263. See also below, entry of 2 March. 

Griffin Greene was a cousin of General Nathanael Greene. Colonel Robert 
Oliver was from Massachusetts, and was prominent in building the mills on 
Wolf Creek. Lives of both these pioneers are given by Dr. Hildreth. 

§ Colonel Ebenczer Sproat was one of the surveyors of the Ohio Company, 
and came to Marietta with the first company of emigrants. He was appointed 
the first siieriff" of Washington county, September 2, 1788. His biography is in 
Dr. Hildreth's collection. 



22 

assisted to mcntl the bridge near our house. It begins to rain when we 
had done work. After dinner went up to the stockade, and throiigli the 
politeness of Colonel Meigs was permitted to read the records and to take 
some extracts from them ; -^ viz. : respecting the conditions of donation 
land ; and the naming Of the city and a grant of a scjuare to the Queen 
of France ; also the names of stjuares, &c.* Had some conversation 
with Colonel Meigs about a spot for taking up a donation lot, &c. He 
says Old Town is the place which is now filling up for an association, — 
as it is tlie plan of the agents to proceed regularly down the Ohio and up 
the Muskingum in forming the settlements, so that the Oxbow seems to 
be the only opening at present for me to subscribe in. 

Weather rainy and unsettled to-day. This morning arrived here a 
keel boat going down with a fiimily to settle at Morgan's place among 
the Spaniards.! About the same time a Kentucky boat with flour for 
Mr. Greene, Woodbridge, &c. About noon arrived Captain Bnllard of 
Virginia and old Mr. Hubbcl of Connecticut, going with two large 
Kentucky boats of flour down to Orleans. They left the point in the 
evening. The doctor informs me of plenty of mussels and quahogs 
up the Muskingum and Wolf Creek ; also of a beautiful large butterfly 
called the Bufl'aloe, among the natural curiosities of the country. 

Saturday, 27 February, 1700. Some frost last night, but a beautiful 
pleasant and mild morning. Set out to go up to stockade again to-day: 
going up met Mr. Matthison, who informed me Colonel Meigs is gone 
to Duck Creek to-day to survey, but I shall have an opportunity in the 
afternoon to peruse the records again. A large Kentucky boat passed 
down the river this morning; another passed down soon after. About 

noon arrived a boat from which brought a letter from General 

Putnam directed to to be connnunicated to the agents and pro- 
prietors of the Ohio Company. $ After dinner went up to the stockade, 
and spent the afternoon in perusing and copying extracts from the 
records of the Company, till dark. A moderately pleasant and mild 
day. This evening Mr. Tilas favored me with the reading of four 
Pittsburg newspapers. 

* Tliese extracts from the records of the Ohio Company are still preserved 
among tlie Wallcut papers. Tliey contain nothing that has not been printed 
already. 

t Colonel George Morgan's settlement at New Madrid, in what is now the 
state of Missouri, conunenced in 1788. See Monette's " Valley of the Missis- 
sippi," vol. i. p. 475; Albach's "Western Annals," pp. 505, 50LI. 

\ (Jeneral Putnam resigned his office of probate judge in Deeemher, 1780, and 
may have been at the Kast on business of the Company at this time. lie was 
appointed United States judge for the Territory, March 31 of this year. 



23 

Lord's Day, 28 February. A very pleasant morning, the wind some- 
what cliilly. Shaved and dressed to go to meeting. Grown niihl and 
warm but something windy so that the roads mend fast. Went to 
meeting to-day. In the evening wi'otc some observations on the salt 
springs. 

Monday, 1 March, 1790. Went to agents' meeting this forenoon. 
The most of the time was taken up in discussing a question pioposed 
by G. Greene, one of the directors, — whether Mr. Story * should be 
continued as a minister at the expense of the Ohio Company. A letter 
was read from General Kufus Putnam on the affairs of the Com[)any, 
particularly that the resolution for a final division, he says, is dis- 
approved of by non-residents as well as himself, &c., and advising a 
suspension of all further proceedings upon that, or any more surveys, 
for the present, as two hundred shares are found delinquent, and it is 
probable Congress will have to take back part of the lands, or so much 
as cannot be paid for. The salt springs were barely mentioned again, 
and it being late they adjourned after one, to meet again to-morrow 
morning. Upon a second invitation from Mr. D. Story, I dined with 
him at Captain Enoch Shepard's,t where he boards, who is brother to 
General Shepard. 

I spent the afternoon in Colonel Meigs's chamber, taking off the names 
and numbers of lots lying each side of mine, &c. Also went to Mr. 
Charles Greene's and got the association for Old Town. Carried it 
home with me, and copied it to return to-morrow. Kain again to-day. 

Tuesday, 2 March, 1790. Pleasant and mild this morning and 
fresh breezes ; much frost last night. Went up to the stockade, and 
returned the paper to Mr. Greene, with my name to it for a lot in 
Old Town association. Went to the meeting. The time mostly 
spent as yesterday, but greater variety of questions. Mr. G. Greene 
and Colonel Oliver refused paying the exploring committee in any 
other but conditional orders, which produced some warmth in the de- 
bates between them and General Tujjper, Major Goodale, &c.t Colonel 

* For a sketch of the Rev. Daniel Story, the first settled minister in Mari- 
etta, see Dr. Hildreth's " Memoirs of tiie Early Pioneer Settlers," p. 325. 

t Captain Enoch Shepard was a valuable citizen of Marietta, interested in 
the erection of mills, &c. 

i Among Mr. Wallcut's extracts from the records of the directors and agents 
of the Ohio Company we find, under date of February 6, 1789, that Judge Par- 
sons, Colonel Crary, and General Tupper were appointed a committee to recon- 
noitre tiie lands, and that they were to be paid one dollar a day for this service, 
and find their own provisions. 



24 

Sproat called upon me, and returned me as a grand jury man for next 
court ; but I informed him I hoped to be on my journey home before 
that time. lie also requested me to write a caption for subscription 
toward Mr. Story's support, which I did nearly in the following terms, 
as my memory serves me : — 

*• Whereas the worship and reverence of the Supreme Ruler of the 
world is essential to the well-being of society, and is the most solid 
foundation as well as the surest support of government and good 
morals, with every thing useful and ornamental to a civilized people ; 
and whereas we, the subscribers, are impressed with a sense of the 
importance of these blessings, and of our obligations lo secure and 
transmit them to our posterity to the latest generation, we do promise 
to give in money or labor what is affixed to our respective names, &c., 
&c." 

In the afternoon the meeting was held in Major Sargent's or Colo- 
nel Meigs's room, as Mrs. Winsor * was dying or dead of the small- 
pox. After all the business was over and an adjournment proposed 
for two weeks, I rose and said : '' Mr. Chairman, I have understood 
that I have the privilege of speaking in this meeting." This being 
assented to, I said that I had some observations of a public nature to 
make, which, as I was not used to public speaking, and to save their 
time as well as to give my ideas with more precision, I had committed 
to writing. And having leave to read them, I proceeded and read 
them through ; and then observed, " Mr. Chairman, in addition to this, 
I think that General Putnam's letter corroborates some of the remarks 
I have just delivered." General Tupper seemed in a hurry to go 
somewhere, and again called for an adjournment, as he had for several 
times. Colonel Oliver, a director, and this afternoon representing 
Colonel Sproat's agency, moved that as I had as a proprietor offered 
my sentiments upon a certain measure, by way of protest and remon- 
strance, it might be put on file (if agreeable to me). Colonel Meigs 
seconded the motion. General Tupper asked if it should be put on file 
or lay on the table. It was determined, I think nem. con., that it should 
be filed. I then said : " Mr. Chairman, if the agents think it fit, I will 
sign it." This being assented to, I signed and dated, and Colonel 
Meigs filed it. Mr. G. Greene, a director, then observed that as I 
was about to return home, I might be wrongly impressed with the sub- 

* Cliristoplier Winsor was on the grand jury witli Mr. Wallcut. See note, 
p. 12. Dr. Hildretli says that six persons who took the small-pox by infection 
died, and two only of the hundred inoculated, and these aged people. See 
" rioneer History," p. 264. 



25 

ject, and made some observations tending to eflface any misconceptions 
of the subject. I did not see tlie force or aptness of Iiis remarks, and 
replied that the matter struck me differently. His remarks were in- 
tended to show the impracticability of making the springs a reserved 
lot; he said it could not be, and that the object of his motion was to 
jDrevent the spring from falling into the hands of any individual. I 
then asked him how that could be the intent of his motion, when he 
had proposed to give it away to any one, or any number, who would find 
it out, &c., «&;c.* The agents being all upon the go, and having other 
business to attend, the meeting was adjourned for a fortnight. I went 
to Mr. Gridley's to inform him of the probability of my going next 
Saturday, that he might have his letters ready, &c. Was urged to stay 
and take a dish of colfee, which I did. Entering into conversation 
about the country, donations, settlements, &c., I made out half-past 
eight o'clock, and went home in the dark, which was very great, with 
extreme high winds and some rain, the roads very miry. I had a bad 
time on 't. A strange and sudden reverse of good and bad fortune. 
While we were in Colonel Meigs's chamber at agents' meeting, some 
j^eople from Wolf Creek informed JNIajor White t that his boards are 
not lost, but that the half of the raft which lay under water in the flood 
now appears on an island. 

Wednesday, 3 March, 1790. I expected from the fine temperature 
of the weather for yesterday and some time past, that we should have 
no more winter, but I was disappointed this morning. In the latter 
part of the night and this morning we had a pretty smart snow-storm, 

* Among Mr. Wallcut's loose papers is a draught of Ids remarks on the salt 
springs, perhaps tlie observiitions he says he wrote on tiie Sunday evening 
before. He objects to the proposal of Mr. Greene to give tlie springs to the fiiuler, 
or to lease tliem for five per cent. He .«pcaUs of tlie uncertainty wlietlier the 
great springs will be found to be witliin tlie bounds oT the Company's purchase, 
and proposes two alternatives, if thej' be so found. I. Tliat they be reserved as 
a public lor, the common property of tlie whole Company, and, after due notice, 
sold at auction, the proceeds to be kept as a fund for future contingencies and 
e.xpenses of the Company. The prospect of this will, he thinks, improve the 
financial condition of the Company. II. As two of the directors have already 
been empowered to ask Congress for a charter and aid in founding a university, 
lie suggests that these springs be reserved as a grant to the universit}', and if 
that project fail, that they make a fund for the support and encouragement of 
schoolmasters and ministers. 

t Major Hatfield Wiiite, from Danvers, ^rassacluisctts, was commissary of 
the first party of emigrants. With Colonel Robert Oliver and Captain Dodge, 
he built the mills at Wolt Creek. There is a short biographical sketch of him 
in Hildreth's " Memoirs of the Early Pioneers," p. 390. 

4 



20 

with liiuli wiiul iiboiit Avostorly. but variaMo. In cuttiiijx otV a largo 
boiH'li K>g I tVlt tlio loiio of tlio I'oUl as sensibly as I have at lionie 
ofltMi on a winter niorning. Vimv liigli winds and oxironie cold for 
tliis ci nntry. This is a very snddt-n and <irer\t change of weather from 
^Monday and Tuesday, and indieat.es. with other instanees. the eliniate 
as ineonslant as ^las'^aelinsetts. It has grown more moderate this 
afternoon. Went to Mr. Oilman's, who was so kind as to give nie the 
distances, i!i:c.. on the Clark:^bnrg road, exti acted from his son's letter.* 
Called at Mr. Fearing's: not at home. 

Thnrsday. 4 !Mareh, 1700. "NVeather much moderated, though still 
cold enough. About noon arrived the eonlraetor's boat with provisions* 
very seasonably, as the garrison had short commons lately.t Went to 
Mr. Fearing's agiiin to-day. He was not at home. Went up to the 
stockade again, and got from Colonel ]Meigs the distances of places 
on the Ohio. I>y way of apology, introduced to him the subject of 
my protest, lie says he thii.ks I was right and justifiable in conduct. 
He tliinks !Mr. Greene probably knows more abont the spring than he 
talks of publicly. Went to Captain Knowles's and ^Ir. lUirnham's. and 
rctin\u'd liim llurcliins's pamphlet about Western Territory. &c.$ AVent 
to Colonel Battelle's to inform them of my going on Saturday or 
Sabbath next. Drank tea with them. Introduced to iiim also the 
subject of my conduct at agents* meeting. He thought I was justiti- 
able and right in doing it : said he had spoken with some of the agents 
afterward, who thought well of it. 

Friilay. o ^larch. 1700. Weather unsettled and variable. Spent 
most of the day reading Ty tier's edition of Salmon's Grammar Geo- 
iiraphical.^ Wind high aud niw. About twelve o'clock William and 

• This sontoniv has been intorlineil, but Mr. Wailcut lias written " X. B. 
this is right, and should not have been scratclied out." 

+ By the middle of May, says HIKlreili, the seareity of food was felt gener- 
ally. An early frost bail spoiled the corn crop of the jirevioiis summer, and 
the woods had Inxm thinned of game. There was quite a famine lor a time. 
See " Pioneer History," pp. :X»4-2O0. 

J This was Thomas llutcluns's " Topognipliical Peseriptiin of Virgini.<», 
IVnnsylvania, Maryland and North Canilina, comprehending the rivers of Ohio, 
Kanhawa, Scioto, Ohen.>kee, Walmsh, Illinois. Mississippi, &c." Sm.Svo. pp. ii, 
SO. Boston, 1TS7. It is quite nire. Pr. Belknap's copy is preserved in this 
Society's Library. 

§ Thomas S^ilmon's " Geographical and Historical Grammar " was once a very 
popular biHik. Many editions were publisheil. some after th.e author's death. 
In Harvard College Library th.ere is a eopy of tlic thirteenth edition, publislied 
in 17So, with h new preface aud dedicatiuu, but we caunut councct the name of 
Tvtler with it. 



27 

Jolin Sprnfjno, ITeiiry l^ap;loy, mid John rijinliior (tlio saiiio wlio 
escaped from tlic Indians)* set out from IMnskinu;nm point in a (t;inoo 
to f^o Imntin^j; down tlie Oliio. Inslcad of crossini;- (lii'cclly over (o tiie 
garrison poiiit and keepini;' llui sliore, tliey imprndently and nmieces- 
surily went strai;i,lit into tlie Ohio ; and l\n\ wind hh)win<i verv fi'csli an<l 
making a considerable snrge, the canoe being prtitty heavy h)athid, it 
overset about the middle of the Oliio in a rapid current, and all four 
of them came very near drowning. But by the timely exertions and 
assistance from the fort they were all happily recovered. If they had 
been a quarter or half a mile down the stream tlu^y must probably 
have perished before any help could have Ixu-u allbidcd lo them. 
Gardner kept his rifle in one hand a long time, but was obliged to let 
it go before the help came up to them. In the evening i-ead the jour- 
nal of the exploring committee who were out in August, 17^!), down 
the Ohio. 

Saturday, G INIarch, 1790. Pleasant most of tin; day, but high 
winds. Assisted Colonel Oliver and IMajor White to get a pair of mill- 
stones aboard a boat to go to their mill up to Wolf Creek. Tluiy have 
had an uncommon series of good and ill luck: first lost a large raft 
of boards ; then their boat carried away down .stream, but stopped at 
Belle Pre and all saved ; but before it could be brought up back again 
the boat and millstones carried away again by the ice, the provisions 
and a great variety of articles being before tak(;n out were saved ; 
then another raft of boards lost, and part of them since saved and 
recovered ; the remainder, which was supposed to be lost, has a[)peared 
since the water i'ell, found upon an island in the IMuskingiim. In the 
midst of this, while they are at Marietta |)r(!i)aring to go up with an- 
other pair of stones, Major White has his house buined at Wolf Creek, 
in which be says he has lost clothing and papei's and almost every thing 
he had. J3iU thei/ are in good spirits, and do not seem at all dis- 
couraged. 

Mr. Fearing has several times expressed his friendship for me, or 
manifested an approbation and pleasure with my conduct, and says he 
is sorry I am going away, and loath to part with me, and hopes I shall 
come again. t Several others have spoken directly to me, or by somi; 
other person, I have understood them to be of the same mind. Colonel 

* John Giinlnor was of tlie party that settled VViiterfoid. His adventure wltli 
the bi(li;ins is told in Ilildrt'th's liis-tory, pp. 4*2-1-128. 

f Among Mr. VVallciit's papers are two letters from Mr. Fejiriiig. In tlie 
first, dated November 14, 17'J0, he renews the hope that his friend will yet return 
and settle in Ohio. 



28 

Oliver. Colonel Meig?, Captain Prince, 31r. Gridley. and some others 
have shown a similar disposition. It seems I have somehow pleased 
them, and the people in general, so that from what I cam leni-n m_v return 
would be agreeable to them. This affords me great pleasure and gives me 
satisfaction, with a reasonable hope that my conduct has been generally 
ple;i5ing. I have some reason to think from what Commoilore Whipple 
told me, that my return would be agreeable to Major Sargent, and 
that he would assist me in business in his way. Major White. Esquire 
Wells and his sons, Mr. R<xkwell. Mr. Bent. Messrs. Buell, Munsell. 
Colonel Battelle. Messrs. Mills. Barker, Mr. Story and brother. Cap- 
tain Shepard, Mr. Tilas, Skinner, Parsons, and a number of ot!iei-s, 
always treat nie with respect, and some of them have given me indi- 
rect pntise. Mr. Woodbridge and his brother Backus treat me with 
respect, but with moie reserve, and coldness that looks like suspicion. 
This day settled widi Mr. Moody for my board, and the doctor's, 
including to-morrow, as follows: — 

Dr. to X. M.. Dr. 

1789. 
Oct. 29. To board from 29 Oct. 1789, to the 7 March, 1790, 1 
inclusive, beinsr 1-^0 davs. or 18 weeks and 4 ! 
days, ^ 3/6 per week, including washing and | £ s. d. 

mending, &c J 346 

To making two shirts (o/ 2/ i 

£3 8 6 
Errors excepted, X. Moody. 

Received Payment, 

Xath'l Moody. 



Thomas Wallcct to Xathaxiel Moody, Dr.* 
1789. 
Oct. 26. To board from 20 October, 1789, to the 7 March, \ S, s. d. 
inclusive, 1790, deducting 25 days, is 105 days, >■ 5 5 

^ 7/ per week ' 

To 6 pounds pork fa) /i i>er pound 2 

To washing 32 pieces ® /3 per piece .... S 
To sundries, snuff, whiskey, bread, &c 6 5 

£6 15 
We are now ready, or shall be, to start to cross the Ohio to-morrow 
afternoon. We intend to sleep at Williams's,! and start from there by, 

* Tlie originals of tliese bills are preserved among the Wallcut i)apLrs, and 
we find also two letters from Mr. Moody. 

t Isaac Williams, a pioneer in Western Virginia. See note in Colonel May's 
journal, p. 70, and a biography in Dr. IlilJreth's "Memoirs of the Pioneer 
Settlers," p. 475. 



29 

or before, sunrise. This, we expect, will save us two or three hours, 
rather than to cro?s from home in the morning. We hope by this to 
get through to Clarksburg in three days, and sleep but two nights in 
the woods. 

Lord's Day, 7 March. 1790. Pleasant, but high winds ; weather 
variable. After shaving went up to the stockade to meeting. After 
meeting took leave of my friends and accpiaintance that were there, 
being prepared and ready to cross the Ohio in the afternoon. At 
dinner Colonel jMeigs, Mr. Fearing, and others brought me letters for 
their friends, which I stowed away, tied up in my saddle-bags. The 
minister gave notice that Divine service would be attended next Sab- 
bath at INIr. Munsell's hall on the point. 

My acquaintance here discover a politeness and attention that much 
affects me, several offering their service to help us over the river. The 
gentlemen of our flimily, with Captain Mills, Mr. Harker, Mr. Bent, &c., 
propose to get Mr. Mitchell's large boat and carry us over to the Vir- 
ginia shore. Messrs. Dodge and Proctor, our company, with the doc- 
tor, being all ready and together, the wind blew so fresh, and a large 
surge in the Ohio, with a snow-storm, that most of our friends think it 
not prudent for us to cross until the wind abates. We waited for the 
lulling of the storm till sunset, and then gave over the prospect of 
going over the river to-night. However, I propose to sleep on the 
floor with the doctor, to-night, that I may be ready early, before day. 
Mr. Mayo arrived from Belle Pre with letters from himself and Cap- 
tain Ingersol, &c. 

Monday, 8 March, 1790. Pleasant, clear, cold, and high winds. 
We were up before sunrise, and got some hot breakfast, coffee and 
toast; and Captain Prince, Mr. Moody, Mr. Skinner, Captain ]Mills 
and brother, Mr. Bent, etc., accompanied us over the river to Sargent's 
or Williams's, and took leave of us about nine o'clock, and we proceeded 
on our journey. We had gone but a little way when we found the 
path so blind that Ave could not proceed with certainty, and I was 
obliged to go back and get a young man to come and show us the way. 
When we had got back to our companions again, they had found the 
road, and we walked twenty miles this day. Weather raw, chilly, and 
a little snow. The country after about five or six miles from the Ohio 
is very broken and uneven, with high and sharp hills. 

Tuesday, 9 iMarch, 1790. The weather for the most part of the 
day pleasant, but cold winds, northerly. The country very rough, the 
hills high and sharp. One third of the road must go over and on 
the ridges, and another third through the valleys. We walked this day 



30 

about twcnty-tlirco or twenty-four miles, and slept near the forty-fourth 
or forty-fifth mile tree. 

Wednestlay, 10 March, 1790, "Weather raw and moist. To-day 
we crossed several of the large creeks and waters that fall into the 
Ohio. This occasioned a loss of much time, waiting for the horse to 
come over for each one, which he did as regularly as a man would. 
The country much the same, but rather better to-day, except that a 
great deal of the road runs along through the streams, and down the 
streams such a length with the many bridges that will be wanted, that it 
will be a vast expense, besides the risk and damage of being carried away 
every year by the floods. AYe had so much trouble in crossing these 
streams that at last we forded them on foot. One of the largest in 
particular, after we had rode it several times, we waded it four or five 
times almost knee-deep, and after that a luimber of times on logs, or 
otherwise, without going in water. Two of the streams, I doubt not, 
we crossed as ofteu as twenty times each.* We walked this day about 
fifteen miles. 

Thursday, 11 ^larch, IT'.Hl With much fatigue and pain in my 
left leg, we walked about tiftcen miles to-day. They all walked better 
than I. and had got to Carpenter's and had done their dinner about 
two o'clock when I arrived. They appear to be good farmers and 
good livers, have a good house, and seem very clever people. IMr, C, 
is gone down the country. They have been a frontier here for fifteen 
years, and have several times been obliged to move away, I got a 
dish of cotfee and meat for dinner, and paid ninepence each, for the 
doctor and me. We set ofl', and crossed the west branch of the 
Monongahela over to Clarksbnrgh, The doctor paid his own ferriage. 
We went to Major Robinson's, and had tea and meat, &c„ for supper, 
I paid ninepence each, for the doctor and me. Weather dull and 
unpleasant, as yesterday. 

Friday, \'2 March, 1700. Weather good and pleasant to-day. We 
set ot!' before sunrise and got a little out of our road into the JNIorgan- 
town road, but soon got right again. We breakfasted at Webb's mill, 
a good house and clever folks. Had cotlee. meat, &c. ; paid sixpence 
each, for me and the doctor. Lodged at Wickware's, who says he is 
a Yankee, but is a verv disagreeable man for anv countiv, rouiih and 



* A largo nini) of Viitiiiiia, niatlo in 18'JG, by Ilorinan Bdye, a copy of wliicli 
was jiroseiiteil to the Library of this Society by tiio Goiioral Assembly of that 
state, shows that MiJillo Islaiul Creek ami its numerous branches were the 
streams that Mr. Wallcut and his party encountered. 



31 

ugly, and lie is very dear. I paid one sliilling apiece foi* the doetor's 
and my supper, upon some tea made of mountain birch, perliajis 
black birch, stewed pumpkin, and sodden meat. A[)[)etile supplies all 
deficiencies.* 

Saturday, 13 ]\rareli, 1790. l>eauliful weather all day. Set ofif 
not so early this morning as yestei'day. 'VUr dovlov paid his i'erriago 
himself. Mr. IMoore, a traveller toward his home in Dunker's Bottom, 
Fayette County, Pennsylvania,! set out with us. He seems a very 
mild, good-natured, obliging old gentleman, and liMit me his hors(! to 
ride about two miles, while he drove his pair of steers on foot. The 
doctor and I being both exeessivi^ly fatigued, he with a pain in his 
knee, and mine in my left leg, but shifting about, were nnal)le to 
keep up with our company, and fell much behind them. IMet Mr, 
Carpenter on his return home. He appears to be a very clever man. 
When we had come to Field's,J I found Mr. Dodge had left his horse 
for us to ride, and to help us along, wliich we could not have done 
without. We got a dish of tea without milk, some dried smoked 
meat and hominy for dinner; and from about three o'clock to nine at 
night, got to Ramsay's. Seven miles of our way were through a new 
blazed path where they propose to cut a new road. We got out of 
this in good season, at sundown or before dark, into tin; wagon road, 
and forded Cheat Kiver on our horses. Tea, meat, &c., for supper. 
Old Simpson § and Ilorton, a constable, had a terrible scuflle here this 
evening. 

Lord's Day, 14 March, 1790. Mr. Dodge is hurrying to go away 
again. I tell him I must rest to-day. I have not written any thing 
worth mention in my journal since I set out, until to-day, and so 
must do it from memory. I want to shave a beard seven days old, 

* Mr. Wnllcut paid the expenses of his companion, the doctor, on this jour- 
nej', and amoni; these Wallcut papers we find a incniorandum of money spent 
for liim. In it Wickwatc's is calk'd Wickware's Ferry. Tlie river crossed 
must liave heen tlie Ty^art's Valley, or cast brandi of the Monon^ahela, and on 
B<")ye's map there is a Wiekwire's Creek, not far from Three Fork's Creek, which 
empties into tiie Tygart's Valley River near the old southern line of Monongalia 
County. 

t There is a Diuikard's Creek in the southern part of the present Greene 
county, Pennsylvania (tiie next county to Fayette), and a towiisliip along its 
banks called Duukard. There is also a district in Freston county, Virginia, on 
Cheat River, called Dunker's Bottom. 

X On Boye's niiip is a Fielil's Creek just east of Laurel Mountain.. 

§ There was a famous hunter and trapjier named John Simpson wlio gave 
his name to a creek in Western Virginia. This may have been the person. 



32 

and change a sliirt about a fortnight dirty ; and my fatigue makes rest 
absohitely necessary. So take my rest this day, whether he has a 
mind to go or stay with us. Eat very hearty of hominy or hoiled 
corn with milk for breakfast, and boiled smoked beef and pork for 
dinner, with turnips. After dinner shaved and shirtcd me, which took 
till near night, it being a dark house, without a bit of window, as in- 
deed there is scarce a house on this road that has any.* 

Monday, 15 March, 1790. Waited and got some tea for breakfast, 
before we set out. Settled with liamsay, and paid him 9rf. per meal, 
for five meals, and half-pint whiskey Gt/. The whole came to eight 
shillings. Weather very pleasant most of the day. We walked to 
Brien's about half-past six o'clock, wiru-h they, call twenty-four miles. 
We eat a little fried salt pork and bit of vension at Friends',t and 
then crossed the great Youghiogeny. About two miles further on, we 
crossed the little ditio at Boyles's. My thorogonimbles % are stopped ; 
five or si.>: times to-day they have arrested me. Poor Dodge is the 
worst, he has had about thirty bouts, and they last him till night; 
mine stopped at noon ; the doctor and Proctor not so much aflected. 
AVe walked a\)out or near an hour alter dark, and were very agree- 
ably surprised to find ourselves at Brien's instead of Stackpole's, 
which is four miles further than we expected. Eat a bit of Indian 
bread, and the woman gave us each about half a pint of milk to driidv, 
which was all our sup|)er. 

Tuesday, IG March, 1790, We were up this morning, and away 
about or before sunrise, and ascended the backbone of the Alleghany, 
and got breakfast at Williams's. I cannot keep up with my company. 
It look me till dark to get to Davis's. § Messrs. Dodge and Proctor 
had gone on before us about three miles to Dawson's. || We got some 
bread and butter and milk for supper, and drank a quart of cider. 
Mr. Davis was oiiginally from Ashford, county of Windham, Connect- 
icut; lias been many years settled in this country; has married twice, 

* Mr. Wiilliait leaves a bhmk spaee hero, ami writes tlie lieaJmg" Cliaractcr 
of Old Simpson." 

t rrieiulsviile is a village on tlieeast bank of the Yougliioghcny, about seven 
miles soutli of the Pennsylvania line. Tliis may be the place wiiere the part}- 
crossed the river. See Fisher's " Gazetteer of tlie Slate of Maryland." 

J Thorough go Nimble, a looseness, a violent purging. Gross's " Classical 
Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue," .s. '•. 

§ The memoranda of expenses calls this " Old Davis's on the Potomac." 

II Fisher's "Gazetteer" gives Dawson's as a post otfice in Allegliany county, 
on the nortli-west side of the Potomac liivcr, eleven miles soutli-west of 
Cumberland. 



33 

and got many cliiLlrcii. His cider in a brown mug seemed more like 
home than any tiling I liave met witli. 

Wednesday, 17 March. \Vc were np tliis morning before day, and 
were set ott" before it was cleverly liglit. Got to Dawson's, three 
miles, where IMessrs. D. & P. lodged, and got some tea for bicakfast* 
and set off" in good season, tlie doctor and I falling behind. As it is 
.very miry, Aitiguing walking, and rainy, whicli mak(!s extremely pain- 
ful walking in tlie clay and mud, we could not keep np with I). We 
stopped about a mile and a half from the INIethodist meeting near the 
cross roads at Cressops,* and four from Cumberland, and got some 
fried meat and eggs, milk, butter, &c., for dinner, which was a half 
pistareen each. After dinner the doctor and I walked into Cumber- 
land village about three o'clock, and i)ut up at Herman Stitcher's or 
Stidger's. We called for two mugs of cider, and got tea, bread and 
butter, and a boiled leg of fresh young pork for supper. The up[)er 
part of the county of Washington has lately been made a separate 
county, and called Alleghany, as it cxtiMids over part of that moun- 
tain, and reaches to the extreme boundary of INIaryland, The courts, 
it is expected, will be fixed and held at tiiis place, Cumberland, 
which will probably increase its growth, as it thrives pretty fast 
already. We suppe<l and breakfasted here; paid 2s. for each, the 
doctor and me. Pleasant fine weather this day. My feet exceed- 
ingly sore, aching, throbbing, and beating. I cannot walk np with my 
comi)any. 

Thursday, 18 March. Paid Mr. Dodge Gs. advance. A very fine 
day. We stayed and got breakfast at Stitcher's, and walked from 
about eight o'clock to twelve, to Old Town, and dined at Jacob's, and 
then walked to Dakins's to lodge, where we got a dish of Indian or 
some other home coffee, with a fry of chicken and other meat for 
supper. This is the first meal I have paid a shilling L. M. for. Tiie 
country very much broken and hilly, sharp high ridges, and a great 
deal of pine. About . . . miles from Old Town, the north and south 
branches of the Potomac join. We walked twenty-five miles to-day.t 

Friday, 19 March, 17'.>0. Very fine weather again to-day. We 
walked twenty-four miles to McFerren's in Hancock, and arrived 
there, sun al)Out half an hour liigi:. McFcrren says this town has 

* Crc'sap Town is six niik-s soutli-wcst of Cuniberhuid on tlie state road. 
See Fislicr's " Gazetteer." 

t In liis memoranduni of expenses, Mr. Walleiit enters " ilinner at Jacob's 
in Skii>toii or Fort, tenpeiice." Tlie branches of tlie I'otomac join only a few 
niik'S below Old Town. 



34 

been settled about ten or twelve years, and is called for the man who 
laid it out or owned it, and not after Governor Hancock. It is a small 
but growing place of about twenty or thirty houses, near the bank of 
the Potomac, thirty-five miles below Old Town, and live below Fort 
Cumberland ; twenty-four above Williamspoit, and ninety-five above 
Georgetown. We slept at iMcI'^erren's, a so-so house. lie insisted on 
our sleeping in beds, and would not permit sleeping on the floors. AVe 
all put our feet in soak in warm water this evening. It was recom- 
mended to us by somebody on the road, and I think they feel the 
better for it.* 

Saturday, 20 March. A very fine day again. We have bad 
remarkably fine weather on this journey hitherto. But two days we 
had any rain, and then but little. We stayed and got breakfast at 
McFerren's, and set out al)nut eight o'clock, and walked about twenty- 
one miles this day to Thompson 's,t about half a mile from Buchanan's $ 
in the Cove Gap in the North IMountain. JMy feet do not feel quite 
so bad this day, as they have some days. I expect they are growing 
stronger and fitter for walking every day, though it has cost me a 
great deal of pain, throbbing, beating, and aching to bring them to it. 
It seems the warm water last niglit did me some good. 

Lord's Day, 21 March, 1790. We set off" this morning before day- 
light was clear, and went a pretty smart step till about half-past eight 
brought us to Campbeirs,§ which is eight miles in about two hours 
and a half. Got a good breakfast and set off immediately. We 
walked very smartly and very steadily, and they got to McKanlis's in 
Shippensburgh.il the sun an hour high ; the doctor a little later, and I 

* 111 liis niemoranihiin of expenses for the lOtli, l\Ir. Wallcut lias " break- 
fast at Tonyn's the Irishman, one sliilliiif^ " ; ami "one pint of ciiler at Widow 
Farrels', sign of the Swan, foiirpence." 

t In his memoranda Mr. Wallcut puts " Airetown" after Thompson's. Ayr 
is a township of Fulton county. See Egle's " History of Pennsylvania," 
p. 707. 

t This was jirohably .James Buclianan, the fatlier of the thirteenth President 
of the United States. See Egle's "History of Pennsylvania," p. 758; Day's 
" HistcnMeal Collections of Pennsylvania," p. 354. 

§ In Heading Howell's large map of Pennsylvania, 1792, many of the tav- 
erns on the great road to the West are indieated. This of Caniipbell's is between 
Loudon and Ciiambersburg. Mr. Wallcut's memorandum locates it in Peters- 
town. See also Dr. Harris's " Journal of a Tour to Ohio," p. 72, which places 
it at the " Cold Springs." 

II Shippensburg is one of the oldest towns in Ponn^sylvania, west of the 
Susquehanna river, and in the early days of Western travel was a place of con- 
siderable importance. See Egle's " Pennsylvania," p. C3L 



35 

got in just at sunset. On the way, about one o'clock, we stopped and 
got oats, &c., for tlie horse, and we got a pint of milk apiece. Tiie 
doctor seems out of humor with something. He asked for bread and 
a lialf-pint more, and he had it. The road has grown very fine com- 
paratively, and the weather is exceedingly fine, almost too warm to 
travel in. Went in the evening and heard a Mr. Copeley, an English- 
man and Methodist, pray, &c. He was concluding when I got there. 
He has a son who lives in this place, and wants to write by me to a 
brother he has at the manufactory in Hartford. He appears, to be a 
traveller, &c. ; but wiietlier lie may be called a travelling preacher or 
exhorter, I know not. We made a hearty supper of ti!a and fresh 
pork fried, and went to bed — tiiat is, to lie on the [)latdv as usual — about 
nine. 

Monday, 22 March. 1790. Up and away before sunrise, and 
walked to bieakfast to McCracken's.* He has been an officer in the 
continental army. I find it will not do for me to try any longer to 
keep up with my company, and as they propose going through Read- 
ing, and we through Philadelphia, we must part to-niglit or to-morrow. 
I conclude to try another seven miles, and if I cannot keep up, we 
part at Semple's, the next stage. They got to Semple's f before me, 
and waited for me. I coTiclude to stay and dine here, and part with 
Messrs. Proctor and Dodge. I am so dirty ; my beard the ninth day 
old, and my shirt the time worn, that I cannot with any decency or com- 
fort put off the cleaning any longer. I again overhauled the letters, as 
I had for security and care taken all into my saddle-bags. I sorted 
them and gave Mr. Dodge his, with what lay more direct in his way 
to deliver, and took some from him for Boston and my route. 

I jiaid Mr. Dodge three shillings more in addition to six shillings I 
had paid him before at the Widow Carrel's.t according to our agree- 
ment at twelve shillings to Philadelphia; and as we had gone together 
and he had carried our packs three hundred miles (wanting two), it 
was near the matter. He supposed I should do right to give him a 
shilling more. I told him as I had agreed witli him at the rate of 
fifty pounds, when they did not weigh above thirty-five, and at the 
rate of going up to Pitt instead of returning, which is but half price, 

* Mr. Wallcut says (memoranda of expenses) tlial Captain McCracken's is in 
tiie township of Newton. It is laid down on Howell's map as about six miles 
from Siiippensburg. 

t Semple's or Sample's is in West Pennsboro', according to Mr. Wallcut's 
memorandum. See also Colonel May's journal, p. 105. 

X See entry of Thursday, the 18th inst. 



86 

I thought it was a generous price, and paid him accordingly as by 
agreement. We wisliod each olher a good journey, and IMr. Procton 
the doctor, and I drank a ning of cider together. When we had 
got cleaned, a wagoner came along very luckily, and dined with us, 
and going our way, we put our packs in his wagon, and rode some to 
help. We gave him a quarter of a dollar for this half day and to- 
morrow. We got to Carlisle in the evening and put up with Adam at 
Lutz's. 

This Carlisle is said to be extremely bad in wet weather. It prob- 
ably is nearly or quite as bad as Pittsburg, Marietta, Albany.* I 
went to Lutz's because Adam puts up there, he being of his nation, 
but it is a miserable house, and Adam says he is sorry he carried us 
there. The victuals were good, but they are dirty, rough, impolite. 
AVe supped on bread and milk, and Lutz would insist on our sleeping 
in a bed and not on the floor ; so we did so. 

Tuesday, 23 JMarch, 1790. A pleasant day and the roads very 
much dried, so that the travelling is now comfortable. We dined at 
Callender's in more fashion than since I left home. Adam stopped 
at Sanpson's so long that it was dark when we got over the I'iver to 
Chambers's, where we stopped another half liour.f Set off about seven 
o'clock, and got to Toot's about (deven. All abed, but Adam got us a 
bit of bread and butter, and made us a fire in the stove, and we lay on 
the floor.l 

Wednesday, 24 March, 1790. Old Toot is a crabbed ... lie has 
been scolding and swearing at Adam all this morning about something 
that 1 cannot understand. It has rained last night, and the roads are 
again intolerable. Adam says he cannot go again until his father says 
the word, and that may not be this two or three days. But we cannot 
go and carry our packs on our backs now, the roads are so bad, and 
we should gain nothing to walk, but spend our strength to little or on 
purpose. We must wait for a wagon to go along our way, and join 
it, or wait for the roads to grow better. 

Carried our dirty things to wash ; two shirts, two pair stockings, 
and one handkerchief for me; two shirts, two pair stockings, and one* 

* There is a good account of Carlisle in Dr. Egle's " History of Pennsyl- 
vania," pp. 623-631. 

t Callender's is laid down on Howell's map about five miles bcj'ond Carlisle. 
Simpson's and Chambers's are on opposite banks of the Susquehanna river, a 
short distance below Harrisburg. 

J JMr. Wallout's memorandum of expenses shows that "Old Toot's" was in 
Middlclowu. 



37 

pair trowsers for the doctor. "Went to several places to look for shoes 
for the doctor. He could not fit himself at the shoemakers, and 
boiiglit a pair in a store for 8s. id. Pennsylvania, or Gs. Sd. our currency. 
We went to Henry JNIoore's, the sign of the two Highlanders. I drank 
^ a quart of beer and dined. Old Toot is a supervisor, and is gone to 
Harrisburg to-day, to settle some of his business. 

Thursday, 25 March, 1790. The sun rises and shines out so bright 
to-day that I am in hopes the roads will be better, at least, when we 
go. Old Toot could not finish his business yesterday, and is gone 
again to-day. He is uncertain when he shall send Adam forward to 
Piiiladelphia, perhaps not until Monday. It will not do for us to stay, 
if we can somehow get along sooner. Time hangs heavy on our hands, 
but we do what we can to kill it. The doctor and I went down to 
Moore's and dined together, which was a shilling L. M. apiece. We 
then came back to Toot's and drank a pint of cider-royal* together. 
The house is for the most part of the day filled with Germans, who 
talk much, but we cannot understand them. We have coffee and 
toast, or meat for breakfast, and mush and milk for supper. Our time 
is spent in the most irksome manner possible ; eating and drinking, aud 
sleeping and yawning, and attending to the conversation of these 
Dutch. In the evening the house is crowded with the neighbors, &c., 
and for the . . . f Old Toot says, and Adam too, that he will not go 
till Monday. This is very discouraging. 

Friday, 26 March, 1790. A very dull prospect to-day. It rained 
very hard in the night, and continues to rain this morning. No 
wagons are passing, and none coming that we can hear of. We have 
no prospect now but to stay and go with Adam on jNIonday. We stay 
at home to-day and murder our time. We read McFingal, or Ballads, 
or wiiatever we can |)ick up. AVe had coffee and toast and fresh fried 
veal for breakfast, and ate heartily, and so we eat no dinner. The doc- 
tor goes out and buys us Srf. worth of cakes, and we get a half-pint 
of whiskeys which makes us a little less sad. In comes a man to in(piire 
news, &c., of two men from JNIuskingum. He had heard Thompson's 
report, which had made so much noise and disquiet all through the coun- 
try. He had three Harrisburg papers with him, which give us a little 
relief in our dull and unwelcome situation. At dark there come iu 



* Ciilerroviil was " made by boiUng three or four barrels of fresli api)le- 
cider down to one or less, thus adding to itsstrengtlias a beverage." Atkhisou's 
" History of Ivaiiawiia County," p. 188. 

t Tiiere is a hne left blank here. 



38 

two men with a wnj^^on and want lodging, &c. They stay thi> night, 
and with them we find an opportunity of going forward as far as Lan- 
caster, which we are determined to embrace. 

Saturday, 27 March, 1790. We stay and get a good breakfast 
before we set out, and agree to give Mr. Bailey 2s. L. !M. for carrying 
our basri^aije. This is his/her than any thiuij it has cost us on the road 
in proportion, but we cannot help it. It is better than to waste so 
much time in a tavern. It rains steadily, and the road is all mush and 
water. Before I got on a hundred rods I am half-leg deep in mire. 
Set off about eiglit o'clock, and overtook the wagon about two miles 
aliead. However, it clears off before night, and the sun shines warm, 
and the roads mend fast. We made a stay in Elizabethtown about two 
hours to feed and rest. The doctor and I had two quarts of beer and 
some gingerbread and buckwiieat cakes for dinner. We got to Colonel 
Peden's to lodge, which is eighteen miles through an intolerable bad 
road, to-day.* (Elizabetlitown, about fifty houses ; Middletown, about 
an hundred houses.) We paid our landlady this evening, as we are to 
start so early in the morning it would not do to wait till the usual time 
of getting up to pay tlien, and we have got nine miles to go to reach 
Lancaster. 

Lord's Day, 28 March, 1790. We started this morning at day 

dawn, and got to at the Black Horse, four and a half miles to 

breakfast. The wagon went by us, and fed at Shoo|)'s. I left the 
doctor with them and to take care of the tilings, and walked into the 
town before them. Stopped at Gross's, the Spread Eagle, and left 
word for the doctor, which they never told him. I heard the bell ring 
for church just as I got here, which made me go into town after wait- 
ing some time for them. Took leave of Mr. Bailey, (fccf I went to 
the English Episcopal Church, and then went back to look for the 
doctor, and he looking for me ; we were some time in chase, and 
missed each other. Found we could not get served at the Angel, so 
took our baggage and walked down to Doersh's, who keeps the stage. 
Got dinner here. Shaved, shirted, put on my boots, and went out into 
town. Stopped at the court-house and heard a Methodist. Walked 
further about ; stopped and looked into the Catiiolic chapel, and talked 
with the priest. Looked into the churches, such as I could, and re- 

* Mr. Wallcut notes in his expenses for this day, "to Fisher's ferriage over 
Sweetara Creek, twopence"; and "supper at Colonel Peden's in Kaphoe, ten- 
pence." Ka[)lio is a township in the nortiiern part of Lancaster County. 

t Mr. Wallcut notes among his expenses, "paid David Bailey for carrying 
pack to Lancaster, one shilling." 



39 

turned to tea at sunrlown. Spent the remnincler of the time till bed 
i-eading newspapers. AVashed my feet and went to bed just before ten. 

Monday, 29 March, 1790. After breakfast the doctor and I took a 
ramble about the town, to look at it and to inquire if we could find any 
wagon going to Pliiladelphia, that we can get our baggage carried. 
The most likely place we can hear of is to go to the Creek, about a 
mile from town. Immediately after our walk we settled and paid, and 
set out at just eleven o'clock. Paid toll over Conestoga bridge, and 
stopped at Loclier's, at the Indian King, two miles from Lancaster, 
and drank a quart of beer. It was not good. Dined at Blesser's, on 
a cold meal, which was 8d. L. M. apiece. Got to Hamilton's at Sals- 
bur)-, a very good house ; nineteen miles.* This is more than I ex- 
pected wheii I set out at eleven o'clock. A very good supper ; rye 
mush and milk, cold corn beef, and apple pie on the table. But Sd. 
L. M. for supper and lodging apiece. We have had very good weather 
for travelling, and the roads are drying fast. In hopes that we shall 
find some wagon going on the Philadelphia road, that we may get our 
packs carried part of the way. 

Tuesday, 30 March, 1790. We walked twenty-four miles this day, 
that is, from Hamilton's to Fahnstock's. Very pleasant weather, suit- 
able for travelling ; not too warm nor too cold. My feet very tender 
and sore, but we kee]) along steady. Got to Fahnstock's, Admiral 
Warren, about eight o'clock. Got some bread and milk for supper. 
The doctor had nothing but a pint of cider for his supper. We slept 
well, considering my being excessively fatigued, Tiie post overtook us.f 

Wednesday, 31 March. Stayed to breakfast this morning, which was 
very good, but I do not like the practice, at least I do not seem to need 
eating meat with breakfast every morning. I sometimes eat it two or 
three times a day because it is set before me, and it is the fashion to 
have meat always on the table. We dined about seven miles from 
Phihxdelpliia;! crossed the Schuylkill about suiist-t, and walked into 
town about dark. Crossed the Scluiykill over the floating bridge, and 
paid our toll. Id. Pennsylvania each. After looking and walking about 
a good deal, we stopped, and went into the Widow Paul's, who said she 

* Blesser's was in Leacock townsliip, and Hamilton's sign was the Bull. 
These notes are from Mr. AVallcut's memoranda of expenses. 

t Mr. "Wallciit notes as liis expenses for tlie SOtli March, " breakfast at Ashe's 
in West Calne, eightpence," and " dinner and one gill whiskey at Downing's, one 
shilling and twopence." These places are in Chester Count}'. 

t Mr. Wallcut notes among liis expenses, " cold dinner with cider at Stick- 
er's, seven miles from riiiladelphia." 



40 

was full, and sent us to Mr. Samuel Davis at the White Horse, where 
we lodged.* 

Thursday, 1 April, 1790. Fine, pleasant weather; very much 
fatigued. About ten or eleven got rested, and shaved, and then 
walked out to see the town, market, &c. Inquired for some cloth ; 
found a good and handsome raven black at Hugh Ferguson's and 
Daniel Lapsley's. In the evening Dr. Thomas, the doctor, and I went 
to St. Paul's, and heard Mr. Filmore preach a sermon preparatory to 
fast, it being Good Friday to-morrow. f 

Friday, 2 April. Went to St. Peter's Church this forenoon, where 
Bishop White read the service, and Mr. Behn preached, j In the after- 
noon (it rained excessive hard) went to Christ Church, and heard 
Mr. Blackvvell. Afterward went to the new German chapel and saw 
the holy sepulchre, &c. Could not get in at the other chapels. 

Saturday, 3 April, 1790. A veiy fine day after the rain. Went, 
over the way across the market, and had some conversation with Friend 
Joseph Crnkshank.§ who appears not only a friend by profession, but 
friendly indeed. Our talk was mostly on the Indians and negroes, and 
he gave me six pamphlets to disperse, and a number of others for 
myself, and I bought five or six of him amounting to 2s. 9rf. or 2s. 
10//. L. M. 

Went to Lap.sley's and bought two and a quarter yards raven black 
suj)erfine cloth at five dollars per yard. Got 2\ for eleven dollars. 
Bought lining and trimmings at Friend Amos Taylor's, amounting to 
14s. U)d. Pennsylvania. Carried all to David Brooks || to make, who 
first wet it as I directed, and I went with him and saw it. In the after- 
noon went to the button manufacturer's^ and to see the almshouse and 
hospital, — " iVo entrance 'without pui/iiif/ sixpence" ; but a half pistareen 

* Samuel Davis kept at No. 2 Elbow Lane, a small lane running south tVoni 
IIii;!i (now Market) Street, between Second and Third Streets. 

t Hiddle's riiiladelphia Directory for 1701 has a David Lnpsie.v, a storekeeper. 
Kobert Thomas was a druggist at No. 9 Nortli Third Street. The Kev. Josepli 
Pilmore wiis an Episcopal clergyman, at tliis time tlie assistant at St. Paul's 
Church. He had been in early life a follower of Wesley. See Sprague's 
" Anuals of tiie American Pulpit," vol. v. pp. 266-270. 

I The Kev. Joseph G. Bend was an assistant minister of the united parishes 
of Cin-ist Clnn-cli and St. Peter's from 1787 to 171)1. See Dorr's " Historical 
Account of Ciirist Ciuu'ch," p. 212. He is doubtless the person iutemled. 

§ Josepli Cruksliauk was a printer and bookseller at No. <Jl High Street. 
See Biddle's Directory. 

II David Brooks was a tailor at No. 9 Elbow Lane, close by the inn where 
Mr. Wallcut lodged. 



41 



was the first bit I happened to take out, and I would not change it, so 
gave the whole. I visited the crazy rooms, and cells, &c.* Went into 
the new chapel again on my return, and found the tomb taken down. 
Wrote a letter this evening to G. R. Minot, Esq. 

Lord's Day, 4 April, 1790. The doctor and I took a walk this 
morning down to the wharves, and left a letter with Captain Norton 
" Polly, of Martha's Vineyard," for G. R. Minot, Esq. She sails this 
forenoon. 

This forenoon went to the Old Chapel and the Second Chapel, and 
heard mass, and Father Beeston preach. Afternoon went again to hear 
Father Fleming,! but was disappointed. The young German priest 
sang vespers. In the evening went to the great Presbyterian Church 
(Dr. Sproat and Mr. Green)^ and heard Mr. Blair preach from " Who 
knoweth what is good for man all the days of his life ? " 

Monday, 5 April, 1790. A fine, pleasant day. Went round this 
morning to buy some provision for the doctor to carry with him. Got 
measured at the tailor's for my coat, and then walked with the doctor 
out of town near as far as the bridge stone on his journey to New York. 
It will take him three or four days to walk there, and I hope to be there 
by Friday or Saturday evening. § This forenoon I went to the German 
chapel again, expecting to hear Father Fleming preach, and was again 
disappointed. I told the tailor that if he would get my coat done to 
go to the play this evening I would give him two dollars. He could 
not, and T went to the play without it. 

Spent most of the afternoon in the bookshops in Market Street, — 
Aitken, Seddons, Prichard & Hall, &c. Bought a history of Pennsyl- 
vania for two dollars. About six o'clock I bought a gallery ticket, 
half a dollar, and went up. Spent fourpence-halfpenny for cake, beer, 
and apples, and got in seasonably to sit near the front of the gallery. 
" Macbeth " was the tragedy, and " Tlie Wrangling Lovers " was the 

* The Pennsylvania Hospital was founded in 1751. Dr. George B. Wood 
delivered an address at tlie centennial celebration, whicii was printed. 

t The Rev. Francis Fleming's name is in Hardie's Philadelpliia Directory 
for 1793. 

I The Rev. Dr. James Sproat and Mr. Asiibel Green were colleague pastors 
of the Presbyterian Church in Philadeliihia at this time. 

§ From some of Mr. Wallcut's memoranda it is probable that he joined the 
doctor in New York, and that botli took passage for Boston in "Barnard's 
packet," on the 19th. In a drauglit of a letter, probably to Mr. Davis, he says : 
"We tarried in New York about eight or ten days, and arrived in Boston tlie 
23d of April, in good health." 

6 



42 

intended farce, but some accident happening in the tragedy they were 
obliged to put off that and give us " High Life Below Stairs." * It 
was over about twelve, and I went home, but could not get in. Went 
to the Old Ferry, and got lodgings for fourpence-halfpenny.t 

* Tlie theatre was in Southwark, as tlie town authorities would not allow one 
in Philadelphia. See Watson's " Annals of Philadeli)liia," vol. i. p. 473. 
t The diary ends abruptly here. 



/.-- 






&. 



